# @daniel.pillai on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DNTmOcmxdji
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/63335375-danielpillai-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/7fb7543a54.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-08-13T19:02:25.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Daniel Pillai (@daniel.pillai) — https://gondola.cc/daniel.pillai

## Caption

Full Circle in Colour ✨

In 2012, I found BrightenUp! by vasanticosmetics — and something shifted. As a young brown boy navigating the beauty world, fighting to be seen, heard, and valued, it wasn’t just the exfoliator that changed my skin — it was the first time I saw a brand that reflected my identity.

Back then, I was still learning how to embrace all of who I was — a queer South Asian boy in media,
on TV, just trying to figure it all out in a world that often didn’t make space for either. Beauty was my way in. It was rebellion, expression, and self-acceptance. And Vasanti was there — quietly, powerfully — leading with intention and representation before it became a trend.

Fast forward to now: I’m not just using the products, I’m working with the brand. I’ve had the privilege of helping conceptualize and execute their very first makeup meet-up event alongside my team — a celebration of community, culture, and confidence. Through this journey, Vasanti has become more than a brand — they’ve become friends, collaborators, mirrors for a version of me that once felt invisible.

The connection runs deep. Knowing, representing, and building with South Asian-founded brands like Vasanti hasn’t just shaped my career — it’s helped me heal. It’s given me language, pride, and a platform to stand tall in my truth.

Here’s to the glow-up that begins within — and to those who light the way. 💛

#VasantiPartner #BrightenUp #SouthAsianBeauty #BrownBoyJoy #BeautyBeyondSkin #RepresentationMatters #QueerAndBrownInPR #FullCircle

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 198
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 39

## Tags

queerandbrowninpr, fullcircle, brightenup, southasianbeauty, representationmatters, beautybeyondskin, vasantipartner, brownboyjoy

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